A pair of Tube strikes were due to go ahead in London, with the first pencilled in for April 8, and the second taking place on May 4. Both strikes have now been called off, with normal service to go ahead this Monday after all.
Why was there going to be a Tube strike in London?
A strike had initially been called due to a long-standing dispute about working conditions for drivers as well as pay. There were also concerns over a previous agreement that, according to Aslef, London Underground had not honoured and meant that plans were in place for drivers to work longer shifts and spend 25% more time in the cabs.
Why were the Tube strikes called off?
The Tube strikes were called off after a set of successful negotiations between the Aslef Union at meetings involving the cancellation service Acas. Plans to change the drivers working conditions have been abandoned, and they have also agreed to re-implement refresher training, which had stopped during the pandemic.
Nick Dent, director of customer operations for London Underground, said: “We are pleased that Aslef has withdrawn its planned industrial action on Monday 8 April and Saturday 4 May. This is good news for London and we will continue to work constructively with the trade unions to avoid disruption and address concerns.”
Are there any other Tube strikes planned?
Both planned Tube strikes on April 8 and May 4 have been called off, and as of now, there are no other strikes coming up on the network.
Are there any rail strikes?
Yes. The Aslef strikes included rail strikes which are still planned to go ahead. These take place on April 5, April 6, and April 8 across multiple providers so passengers are advised to check before travelling on these days.